Many South Side singers and rappers start out the same way: They discover their talent early on — often from singing in church — and use music as a way out of their rough neighborhood.

Bryan James Sledge, the son of two choir directors, was just 19 when he moved from the Brainerd neighborhood to Los Angeles. He found work as a backup singer and songwriter, and eventually performed with or for almost every artist he’d ever dreamed of: old school icons like James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Dr. Dre, and newer ones like Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q (he featured on the latter’s 2014 hit “Studio”).

Sledge, rechristened BJ the Chicago Kid, released a handful of mixtapes and a well-received full-length, “Pineapple Now-Laters,” before dropping his major label debut, the Grammy-nominated, neo-R&B-inspired “In My Mind,” on Motown in 2016. He recently issued “The Opening Ceremony,” a three-song precursor to a sophomore effort expected by year’s end.

During a phoner in advance of his Taste of Chicago gig Sunday, Sledge talked about his years on the come up, discussed some of his most famous collaborations, and attempted to explain the recent Kanye vs. Chance vs. Trump Twitter brouhaha. The following are excerpts from that conversation:

On performing the national anthem at President Obama’s farewell address

That day felt unreal. It didn’t feel like it was real ‘til I got there. When I got to McCormick Place, that’s when it started to settle in, and I was like, “OK, this is really it.” To see the banners and the podium and the flag and the security, the checkpoints, that’s when you knew it was real. I stayed calm during the performance, but once I got off, I think that’s when I started to get nervous. I was a soldier through it — I’m pretty good under pressure. I got a chance to speak (to Obama) for a quick, hot second. I was kind of stunned when he was coming around. He said, “What’s up?” I was frozen. My manager actually had to (snap me) out of it. You haven’t met the coolest guy until you’ve met Barack Obama.

On the success of “In My Mind”

When we put out “In My Mind,” we prayed for it to at least give us a good 12 months of work. It gave us three years of work.

On recharging between releases

I have to live life, to some degree. I have to spend time with the family, I have to live a little bit, I have to love a little bit. You have to experience all those things, just to have the elevation for the music. Life don’t wait for you to get off work. A lot has happened, and that’s the plan, to stay fearless, and not stagnant. To be stagnant in this industry is to be broke.

On what he learned working with artists such as Stevie Wonder and Dr. Dre

I learned different recipes and ways to cook, so I could open up my own restaurant. I learned the game. I was blessed to work with a lot of people that I admired before I worked with them, so it was a deeper conversation. You ask as many questions as possible, and you be quiet as much as possible.

On feeling invisible during his early, behind-the-scenes days

I’ve also worked for people that didn’t know the potential of the people that worked for them. They never knew that you were an awesome producer, they didn’t know that you were an awesome writer who had a song coming out of that speaker that they were about to love. They were into what they were into. That’s probably the focus level they had to have to get the job done.

On his breakthrough feature on the 2006 Kanye West track “Impossible”

The Kanye one (was a big deal) at home. That was mainly for family members, because they didn’t really say all the names of everyone on that song, which kind of sucks sometimes, being a (featured artist). It was just me and Schoolboy Q in the studio, and sometimes they didn’t even say my name, and I had the most important part of the song. That comes with the game of being a feature on a song.

On his frequent collaborations with Kendrick Lamar

I think the Kendrick Lamar features were more magnetic because of the content. Not just who I was with, but his skill set and my skill set together, I think is an incredible combination. Looking at those songs, and looking at the songs he’s put out after that, he’s still never done songs like that, that level of touching somebody’s soul. I’m honored to have done that with my bro.

On his working friendship with Chance the Rapper

Working with Chance is more than just recording. That guy is such a comedian in the studio. I don’t think that everybody understands he’s an amazing spirit, he’s an awesome dude.

On the time Kanye defended President Trump, and Chance defended Kanye

I think to know loyalty is to understand that situation. Chance is very loyal to Kanye, and Kanye is very loyal to how he feels (laughs). That explains that, that’s holding your brother down. Whether you agree with that or you don’t, that’s your brother. You talk about the wrong in the car, but right now, you stand up for your brother. Privately, you discuss what’s going on.

On his upcoming show at Grant Park

That’s the stage I couldn’t wait to play on. Just being a kid, from the Bulls championship rallies to the blues fest, the gospel fest, I was down there at Grant Park for that. To be a kid and see that stage, I couldn’t wait for me to bless it, and that day is finally here.